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April 12, 2022

A Look Back at 15 Years of Connecting Companies with Capital

Think about how much can happen in a year. Now think about how much can happen in 15 of them.

As we approach Venture Atlanta Forward, our 2022 conference, that’s exactly what we’re doing: looking back at all we’ve accomplished since our inaugural event back in 2008. We’re proud to celebrate this milestone by revisiting all of the achievements, growth, challenges, and changes that have made this groundbreaking event what it is today.

Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning, or you’re discovering Venture Atlanta for the first time, we invite you to take a trip with us down memory lane in honor of 15 inspiring years of connecting companies with capital.

Our Founding Companies That Set the Stage (Literally)

Venture Atlanta began as a shared goal among the Atlanta CEO Council, Metro Atlanta Chamber, and Technology Association of Georgia. Their mission was to bring a premier venture capital event to the state of Georgia, and so these organizations joined forces in 2007 to host the first-ever Venture Atlanta conference in the fall of 2008.

Our premier event welcomed just a couple hundred attendees and 20 investor funds. A humble start-but we knew it was only the beginning. The members of our founding companies believed in the power and influence of Ventura Atlanta; they knew this conference could fill the need for investment dollars in Georgia and beyond.

Venture Atlanta’s Growth Along the Way

15 years later, Venture Atlanta now welcomes 1,200+ attendees and 200+ investor funds. We’ve expanded beyond showcasing Atlanta companies and now welcome the entire Southeast. From as far west as Texas to as far north as D.C., we’ve had an incredible lineup of participating companies from throughout the region.

Not only are we showcasing companies from the Southeast, but we’re making it a priority: Last year, we hit a huge milestone with over 60% of our pitch companies coming from outside of Georgia. What’s more, 12 different states across the Southeast were represented at our 2021 event.

Where the Magic Happens: Our Venues

With more and more companies and investors attending over the years, we’ve had to ensure our venues could accommodate Venture Atlanta’s progressive growth. We’re always looking to bring a new and exciting experience to our attendees, too. Our locations over the years reflect those efforts:

  • The Omni Hotel at CNN Center
  • The W Hotel
  • The Georgia Aquarium
  • The College Football Hall of Fame
  • 200 Peachtree

This year, we’ve upgraded our location once again to The Woodruff Arts Center and Atlanta Symphony Hall. This stunning, modern space encompasses our 2022 theme, Forward, and also represents the uncanny relationship between art and technology.

Notable Board Members Over the Years

In addition to our noteworthy venues, we’ve also had the pleasure and honor of working with notable board members throughout the years. These incredibly talented and hardworking people have helped make Venture Atlanta what it is today. Some of the names you might recognize:

A Spotlight on Our Alumni’s Success

Our accomplished board members have helped pave the way for many successful Venture Atlanta participating companies. To date, we have 667 alumni companies that have collectively raised $6.5B in funding and achieved $16B in exits. Some of the biggest funding announcements and exits include:

 

To Our Sponsors-We Couldn’t Have Done It Without You

We certainly couldn’t forget our sponsors over the years-Venture Atlanta wouldn’t be possible without you! Special thanks to these companies that have sponsored VA every year for the past 15 years:

Last But Certainly Not Least…

We couldn’t have done without the tireless work and support of Venture Atlanta CEO Allyson Eman. She has been leading the way since the beginning, along with our incredible board of directors, and we can’t say thank you enough for everything that you do.

Cheers to 15 Years

Our mission used to be all about connecting companies to capital-and that’s still a very important part of what we do. Over the years, however, it’s become even bigger than that. Venture Atlanta is an incredibly valuable networking opportunity and facilitator of connections; both for investors to connect with other investors and for founders to connect with other founders. The event also serves as the connection point for companies to find talent, customers, mentors, partners, M&A opportunities, and so much more.

It’s been an incredible journey, but we’re not slowing down anytime soon! You won’t want to miss this year’s event-our biggest and best yet. Subscribe to our newsletter for event updates and be sure to follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest conference announcements.

We can’t wait to move Forward with you at Venture Atlanta 2022.

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